I wondered how anyone could defeat her. Her powers covered every form of attack, making it no surprise that even the top guilds feared her and obeyed her commands without question.
The strongest guilds were kept in check by the mere thought of crossing the Child of Whisira.
No one dared to oppose her, because doing so meant becoming her enemy—and that was a death sentence.
I waited. Minutes turned to hours as I sat there, still thinking about Sho's overwhelming presence, when a red light suddenly enveloped the room.
Reyna's expression shifted—she looked like she had just seen a ghost. The others were not in high spirits either. They stood still for a few moments before I spoke.
"What happened?" I asked, my voice tight with concern.
She sank into the chair, letting out a sigh. "Sho thinks we're putting off the boss."
"That's true," Eli replied, crossing her arms. "She wants to progress through the tower."
"So what are we going to do?" Tenshi said with a calm voice.
Looking confident, Viri replied, "We will fight the boss and clear the tower. No more delays."
"I like that plan," Eli smiled, feeling a surge of determination. "We can't let her down. She's counting on us."
"But we need to be smart about it," Reyna interjected, leaning forward. "What's our strategy? We can't just rush in."
"Agreed. We need to assess the boss's abilities first." Viri added.
"Right, then come up with a solid plan," Reyna suggested, her confidence contagious.
Based on Crusaders plans we should be fine as long as we focus on the one with the pendant."
"If we can predict its movements, we can set up ambushes," Viri replied, excitement shining in her green eyes.
"I can provide support. If we can weaken it before the fight, we'll have a better chance," Eli said, seriousness etched on her face.
"Sounds like we all have our roles." Reyna said, nodding appreciatively at each of us. "Let's make sure we're all ready. We don't want any surprises."
"And we should be prepared for anything" I reminded everyone, my mind racing with possibilities.
"Then it's settled. We'll regroup in an hour. No more waiting," Reyna declared, her voice resolute.
"Let's show Sho we're not afraid!" Viri said, excitement building within me.
"Let's clear that tower together!" Eli exclaimed, clinging onto me.
After an hour of waiting, the others finally entered the room, each of them wearing new armor I had enchanted.
Viri's armor was reinforced with sturdy plates, intricately engraved to allow swift movement in battle despite its solid protection.
Reyna's armor featured layered plating, designed for maximum defense, combining elegance with the durability needed for the battlefield.
Eli's armor, made of heavier, interlocking segments, offered full protection without compromising flexibility.
Tenshi's armor was sleek and curved, providing enhanced defense while incorporating magical resilience—an elegant balance of beauty and strength.
Except for Sera. Sera still wore her familiar cape and mask, with her signature viridian-green clothing underneath.
CRACK
We teleported to the 8th floor, and were greeted by an eerie, endless graveyard.
Tombstones stretched as far as the eye could see, filling the barren wasteland under a pale, colorless sky.
The silence was suffocating, broken only by the occasional gust of wind that stirred the dust and ash.
We stood in the center of it all, teleported to a small rune-inscribed platform surrounded by the graveyard, as if dropped into the heart of death itself.
The graveyard radiated a cold, oppressive stillness, as if the air itself was mourning the souls trapped here.
Reyna stepped forward, her footsteps unnaturally loud in the silence. She knelt beside a dusty tombstone and carefully brushed away the grime.
The name etched into the weathered stone read, Lilian Valente.
It was a chilling reminder of the horrors we faced in this world, where NPCs and players alike were nothing more than names on forgotten graves, casualties of monsters and nightmares far beyond our understanding.
Small clusters of slimes slithered sluggishly across the ground, their translucent bodies glistening in the dim light.
They scavenged for anything they could devour, mindlessly sweeping the graveyard for scraps.
Above, a weak, pale sun bathed the floor in an unnatural glow, casting long, twisted shadows that only deepened the atmosphere of dread.